This is the fifth volume of Vocal Music in the critically acclaimed Opera Omnia series of Dietrich Buxtehude (number XIV in the complete cycle performed by Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque). The set of pieces featured could well be subtitled ‘The Unknown Buxtehude’, since it presents eight unfamiliar works that, due to the wide arrange of their dates of composition, are extremely varied in style and form.

Amongst the vocal pieces featured is the richly instrumented piece Ich bin die Auferstehung, BuxWV 44, with five strings, dulcian, two cornettos, two trumpets and basso continuo. The other solo concerto for bass, Ich bin eine Bume zu Saron, BuxWV 45, is much simpler, but more touching. The basic instrumentation of the solo concertos on this CD is two violins, violone and organ, although Jesu, komm, mein Trost und Lachen BuxWV 58 adds a viola and Bedenke Mensch das Ende BuxWV 9 uses an extra violin. The latter also incorporates three singers, as does Jesu dulcis memoria, BuxWV 57. The disc also includes two soprano solo concertos on the same text, Herr wenn ich nur dich habe, BuxWV 38 and 39, a shorter and a longer version sung here by different sopranos.

Ton Koopman is one of the world’s foremost early music specialists and directors, and his recording of the complete Bach Cantatas on Challenge Classics received worldwide acclaim. In recent years he has undertaken the daunting task of recording all of the music of his compatriot, the early baroque composer Dietrich Buxtehude. Amongst a string of accolades for previous recordings in the series, Opera Omnia X (CC72249) was a Gramophone ‘Editor’s Choice’.